World's biggest-ever global food adventure to open doors in 2 weeks

Milan's Universal exhibition, a global adventure in great food, health and happiness is just over two weeks away! Winners of sustainable projects announced

With the gargantuan world exhibition - Expo Milano 2015 - ready to open its doors to the world in just two weeks - the 18 winners of its global sustainability project have been announced.

The gold medal goes to Africa, with 7 winning projects. Followed by Asia with 6, the Americas with 3 and Europe with 2.

The project is part of the "Feeding Knowledge" programme, which aims to raise awareness and spread the best scientific solutions in terms of food security and sustainable development, so that they can become a model for all nations of the world, in environmental, social and productive terms.

786 projects were entered. Of the 18 winners - 5 projects - from Mongolia, Niger, Guatemala, Tanzania and Italy - will be shown in a film produced by Expo Milano 2015; the other 13 will be illustrated through photographic stories.

Film and photographic stories will be seen by millions of visitors of Expo Milano 2015 in Pavilion Zero, the largest thematic Pavilion in the Expos' history, developed in collaboration with the United Nations.

The best practice winners will be at the core of 'Pavilion Zero' at the expo.

The following five projects that will be illustrated with a video for each of the five "priority" areas of interest indicated in the Call:

"Pasture user groups for sustainable rangeland management in Mongolia" organized by the Mongolian Ministry of Industry and Agriculture;

"Intensification of agriculture by strengthening cooperative agro-input shops", developed by IARBIC, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Union of Federations of Producers of Niger;

"Regional Network to support small producers of coffee", realized in Guatemala and created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and by the National Coffee Association of Guatemala;

"Food is a Resource to secure tangible assistance and Inclusion to the deprived" realized in Italy and implemented by the NGO Food Bank Foundation and the European Federation of Food Banks.

And 13 projects that will be narrated through photo stories:

"Conservation and Management of Lampi National Park in Myanmar", realized in Myanmar by the Oikos Institute and the Burma Association on Biodiversity and Nature Conservation;

"Introducing No-Till Conservation Agriculture to Lebanon", developed in Lebanon by the American University of Beirut;

"Identification and conservation of the high nature value of ancient olive groves in the Mediterranean region", Mediterranean Region, implemented by the Region of Puglia;

"First phase: Rationalization of Ras El Ain irrigation systems - Second phase: Rational use of natural resources to improve agricultural production" realized in Syria with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

"Ecuador, ancestral grains fight poverty and malnutrition", realized in Ecuador by Oxfam Italy and by the Indigenous and Farmers' Organization of Ecuador;

"Nourishing the land: nourishing the people", implemented in Madagascar by IFAD - The International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture of Madagascar;

"Tradition and innovation: ensuring a more sustainable and equitable future for Karakorum communities", on-going project in Pakistan with the contribution of the National Park of Karakorum.

"Farmer-researcher networks and North-South partnerships to transform West African agriculture and society towards sustainability, justice and wealth", realized in Mali and Burkina Faso thanks to the intervention of the Research Institute for Organic Agriculture of Switzerland and the Research Centres of Agriculture of Burkina-Faso, Benin and Mali;

"Informatics tool for the competitiveness of local food products from South Mediterranean Countries to European entry points", active in Egypt thanks to the realization of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of Egypt.

"Eradication of the tsetse fly Glossina palpalis gambiensis from the Niayes in Senegal", active in Senegal thanks to the Veterinary Services Senegal;

"Sri Lanka, reconciliation happens through respect for environment, healthy organic food and joined marketing opportunities", realized in Sri Lanka by Oxfam Italy and the International Rescue of the Rainforest of Sri Lanka.

"Kiwicha (Amaranto) Agriculture native to the human and social development as the only alternative to the battle against hunger in the region-Salta- Argentina", realized in Argentina with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Argentine Agrarian Federation;

"Malawi Women as Agents of Change for Nutritional and Agricultural Development", realized in Malawi thanks to Save the Children Italy and Malawi and the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture.

The latest world expo - Milan Expo 2015 - is titled "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life". And where better to hold this gargantuan food and sustainable living event than in the land of good living and eating itself - Milan, Italy.

An expected 20 million visitors will be able to revel in the tastes of at least 145 countries representing some 94% of the world's population - the greatest line-up of foodie experiences ever.

The event will open its doors on May 1st and during the following six months, visitors will experience a massive treat, for the eyes, for the spirit - and definitely for the stomach!

In the massive space - all the world's tastes within a million square meters - 145 countries of the world will be seeking to outdo each other in their culinary, lifestyle and cultural offers.